Our capital city becomes a vibrant community of European guests
Cardiff city centre erupted into a riot of colour and excitement yesterday as the build-up to tomorrow’s Champions League final kicked up a gear.
A sound track for Saturday preparations was provided by the Black Eyed Peas who spent the afternoon rehearsing for what is expected to be a spectacular opening ceremony before Real Madrid and Juventus take to the field.
And noticeably the Welsh capital began transforming into a community of European accents and footballing colours.
On a balmy summer evening thousands of football fans included a mix of French and curious Welsh supporters made their way to the Cardiff City Stadium for the first big match of the long weekend.
Amid increasing security, pumped up fans even took part in a quick kickabout outside the stadium before Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon took to the field.
Along the Taff reams of TV crews from Spain, Italy, Germany and beyond set up camp, looking for the perfect shot of the National Stadium of Wales as it is now known.
On busy St Mary’s Street Spanish and Italian accents could suddenly be heard - alongside French and Welsh.
Cardiff’s airport is today preparing for its largest influx yet of fans. By the end of Saturday 24,000 are expected through its gates.
While Cardiff provided the perfect weather for its new visitors today could bring showers.
But Saturday’s showcase event is promising the sort of blazing sunshine that Madrid fans will feel right at home in.
Temperatures could reach highs of 17C in the capital before showers return on Sunday.
The return of summer will be welcome news in particular to those fans staying in Pontcanna Fields over the coming days.
A village of tents – including some very plush examples – have popped up there in recent weeks.
Camp Cardiff has been set up for an influx of visitors coming to the capital and sees pre-pitched tents, pod hotels and glamping tipis available for rent.
Prices range from £300 for two adults in a basic pre-pitched tent, to £960 for a two-person “pop-up hotel room”.
They come with their own bedding and air beds in the tents. Sizes of the tents vary from two and four-person to eight-person. There’s also the luxury village with bell tents, proper beds and a pamper room.
The site has 24-hour security, onsite food vendors, toilets and showers and phone-charging points.
Camp Cardiff is approximately a 25-minute walk from the stadium.
And a new temporary footbridge built for this weekend – linking Bute Park to just outside the stadium – was completed yesterday.
The footbridge on Castle Street was finished in the early hour of yesterday morning.
The thoroughfare was closed to people and vehicles for more than seven hours on Wednesday so the work could go ahead.
Today more road closures in Car-
diff city centre will bring the city to a further halt.
Castle Street - the main artery leading to the National Stadium of Wales will now close to traffic from 12pm today after organisers brought forward the closure by 12 hours.
A barrier system has been put in place to manage spectators and public access in the area for men’s final between Real Madrid and Juventus.
The Castle Street closure will run from the junction of North Road and Boulevard de Nantes (the junction for City Hall) to Westgate Street (the main stadium entrance) where it will join up with an earlier road closure from Westgate Street to the junction of Cowbridge Road East and Cathedral Road.
The route from the Cathedral Road and Cowbridge Road East junction to North Road will be closed to traffic from 12pm tomorrow until at least 3.30am on Monday.
Access will be permitted to pedestrians and cyclists along the route except on match day when there will be some restrictions before kick off and after the final whistle.
The area from the Sophia Gardens pedestrian exit by the river bridge up to the junction of Castle Street and Westgate Street will be open only to ticketed fans.
After the initial closure of Cowbridge Road East on Wednesday, there was traffic chaos in the city centre with major congestion and delays.
Advice issued to Cardiff council for people travelling through the Cardiff city centre during this period includes:
Avoid travelling by car through the city centre on Friday if you need to drive through the city centre please aim to do so earlier in the day.
Please consider making use of the additional park and walk that is in place over this period for the event at Cardiff Bay.
If you are able to walk, cycle or use public transport as an alternative please do so.
Cyclists may be required to dismount at centre points.
If you are unable to change how you travel please all extra time for your journey.
Visit cardiff2017.wales/travel for more information.